I have a cat and he helps me so much, He knows when I feel sad and is always sitting on my lap. He wakes me up every morning by sitting on my chest purring. He brings so much joy into my life. I have had him for about 18 months now, I adopted him from a shelter after he had been there for 2 years and I remember the lady telling me that no one really showed an interest in him.

Before I got him, I had a dog but he died in 2015 and I still miss him so much so this is my first experience with a cat.

He is one of the reasons I get up every day. I love him so much and tbh I love him more than most humans, If that makes me bad then so be it.

[pachyderm]

I don't think my cat intentionally helps me with my mental health, but just her existence has taught me a great deal about animals including the human kind.

Yes, mine helps. Every day. I am so glad I have her.

[Unrigged64072835]

Mine does. It's comforting to pet her and have her lying near me.

[Travelinglady]

Definitely! I look for my cat first when I come home.

[DodgersMom]

Yes, one of my pups is a registered ESA and my therapist allows him to come with me to sessions. He even gets his own chair to sit in and his own water bowl there

[*Laurie*]

My cats are my dear friends and my family.

The only bad part of being a pet owner and lover of animals is that they eventually get sick and die. I have lost many precious pets over the years and I have a horrible fear of losing more.

[DodgersMom]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

My cats are my dear friends and my family.

The only bad part of being a pet owner and lover of animals is that they eventually get sick and die. I have lost many precious pets over the years and I have a horrible fear of losing more.

This is my biggest anxiety trigger, the fear of losing them. Mine are old so its always on my mind. I've spent so much of my time in therapy discussing this very thing

[Nikki O.]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

My cats are my dear friends and my family.

The only bad part of being a pet owner and lover of animals is that they eventually get sick and die. I have lost many precious pets over the years and I have a horrible fear of losing more.

Same here except my most precious pets have died young... Opal my first cat I raised died at age 4 then a miracle happened last winter and this young kitten, almost identical to Opal, came to my house! I had a dream after Opal died that I found an almost identical kitten and I named her Coral. But now in March Coral disappeared after my mom "accidentally" let her out... But, I still have Calsypher my old rescue who gives me woodticks and loves to rub his face on my glasses x)

[Marla500]

Yes! I love my dog, she's definitely part of the family. I got her from the shelter and she has some anxiety issues that I have had to learn to help her with but I was happy to learn since I have those issues myself, we are like two peas in a pod

[HopeEqualsTrust]

I have a 110# American Bulldog "Bully Zane," a 7 or 8 yo Pit Bull Molly, 5 yo, 4 yo Jossie, and Lacy is about 7 mo. The American Bulldog crawls in my lap when I'm sad/blue. He also lays with me if I fall on our land. Koallie, sits with me throughout the day. She thinks she is all that. She plays beg but we don't reward her for begging.

It really is hard taking care of 5 dogs and we have Olive and Oyl who are female Pot Belly Pigs. I love going out and talking to them, the birds, etc.

We also have 5 horses that live behind us and come see the pigs from time to time.

Without my animals, I would not make it thru the day by myself. I had a boy coming this summer and helping me with the animals but his parents were hard to deal with - he was great.

[Nammu]

Most definitely he does.

[*Laurie*]

My cats are life-savers. The only down side is that I worry about them getting sick and dying.

[codaliz]

Often times, those with depression or anxiety avoid contact with the outside world, either out of fear or stress of what might happen.

“Anxiety and depression involve emotional turmoil and negative internal ‘self-talk,'” Dr. Katie Kangas, co-founder of the Pet Wellness Academy, explains. “These thoughts typically spiral into unrealistic negativity and this continues in a vicious cycle.”

Dogs help break that cycle by providing comforting companionship and a sense of purpose for their owners.

[karritous]

Absolutely 100%. I couldn't have progressed this far without Laurel, my snowshoe siamese. She is not a certified service cat, but fits all of the qualifications. We have been together 17 years and she helps me with my anxiety due to PTSD. She is a lifesaver.

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

My cats are life-savers. The only down side is that I worry about them getting sick and dying.

I totally relate to this. When my dog died 2 years a go it was so heartbreaking, I have never cried so much, even now I still cry over his loss.

[cakeladie]

Sunny our cat always knows when I am not feeling well

[Treesofgreen]

Originally Posted by Lavender.

I have a cat and he helps me so much, He knows when I feel sad and is always sitting on my lap. He wakes me up every morning by sitting on my chest purring. He brings so much joy into my life. I have had him for about 18 months now, I adopted him from a shelter after he had been there for 2 years and I remember the lady telling me that no one really showed an interest in him.

Before I got him, I had a dog but he died in 2015 and I still miss him so much so this is my first experience with a cat.

He is one of the reasons I get up every day. I love him so much and tbh I love him more than most humans, If that makes me bad then so be it.

Such a sweetie

[Woodchuck]

Without my pets I would have ceased to exist many years ago.
I usually feel that, as long as I have a dog, I am not going to do anything stupid.
I adopt senior dogs so I do lose them after only a few years but it's so worth it to make their last years the best. Then I mourn and start browsing Petfinder again.

Lately my dog has not been enough to keep me from going "there" which is a signal to myself that I need to get some help on board. I love my cat too, but for whatever reason he isn't enough to anchor me.